Professional Coin Grading Service

1897 1C MPD FS-401 S-1 (011.5), BNAU58BN

Owner's Comments

Eagle EYE Photo Seal
S1 1897, 1 in the neck.
Obv. 3: (LE) The base of the 1 digit is boldly punched into the neck
above the first pearl. Die file marks by the first feather to the ES in
STATES. Another die line from the neck towards the I in UNITED. Die
stage A: No die cracks. Late die state: Rim cuds below the date.
Rev. C: Olive leaf connected to the denticles. Shield points well away
from the denticles.
Attributed to: Jack Beymer
All examples seen to date have weakness on the
first three feather tips. It seems to be due to debris filled
dies, not weakness of strike. Whether this exists on all
examples, it is unknown. The base of the 1 sticking out
of the neck is very bold. This is a vary easy to see variety
and, as such, it is one of the top varieties of the Indian
cent series. Interest multiplied in 2002 when PCGS
started labeling this variety on their holders as a regular
date in the series. With the low reported population, it
gained intense interest among regular date set collectors
as one of the important dates to include in a regular set,
a status only the 1867 S1, 1869 S3, 1873 Close 3 S1
and 1894 S1 share. PCGS has since deleted it from their
population reports but still labels the variety. Interest has
not diminished.
It was assumed early on that this variety would
be found in high grades due to the general availability
of this date. It is very surprising that only a few MS
examples have come to light and none in gem full red
condition. Hill-22.